Deciphering the Provenance of Ancient Egypt’s Preserved Baboons

Deciphering the Provenance of Ancient Egypt’s Preserved Baboons

The inaugural sequencing of a mitogenome from a preserved non-human primate has established a link between an Egyptian baboon, dated around 800-540 BCE, and present-day baboon populations in Ethiopia, Eritrea, and eastern Sudan. This discovery offers new insights into Egyptian-Adulite commerce, predating existing archaeological records. Credit: Artwork © 2023 by Mike Costelloe

A multidisciplinary initiative spearheaded by primatologist Gisela Kopp is utilizing genetic examination to pinpoint the geographical beginnings of baboon mummies unearthed in ancient Egypt.

Various gods in ancient Egypt were depicted as animals, and Thoth, the deity of wisdom and knowledge, was symbolized by the hamadryas baboon. These baboons were most likely kept in captivity and mummified as ritual offerings postmortem. Currently, Egypt has no wild baboons, and there exists no empirical data to suggest that such primates ever resided there.

In a collaborative project involving biologists, Egyptologists, and anthropologists, Gisela Kopp, a biologist from Konstanz specializing in research on non-human primates, investigated the origins and pathways through which baboons arrived in Egypt. The findings were recently disseminated in the scientific journal eLife.

Importation of Baboons for Religious Practices

In homage to the god Thoth, baboons were likely imported from remote territories and held in captivity in ancient Egypt. Skeletal examinations reveal that their hazardous canine teeth were extracted. To ascertain the geographical roots of these baboons, Gisela Kopp and her team engaged in genetic scrutiny. The source region of these creatures could be identified by studying the mitochondrial genomes of the mummified animals. Baboon distribution across Africa and their genetic variations are comprehensively documented.

According to Gisela Kopp, “Comparative samples were obtained from nearly all locales where present-day baboons inhabit.” These were further enriched with specimens from museums, aged around 100 to 150 years. The enduring stability in the location of different genetic variants among baboon populations allows for comparisons across expansive temporal ranges.

Comparative Analysis Identifies Adulis as Point of Origin

Anthropologist Nathaniel Dominy from Dartmouth College had previously employed stable isotopes to pinpoint the geographical birthplaces of the mummified baboons. Such chemical signatures help differentiate between places of birth and upbringing. A study published in 2020 identified the Horn of Africa as the area of origin for the baboons. Further genetic examination refined this to a specific zone in Eritrea and its adjacent territories. The comparative sample most akin to the mummy’s genetic variant was traced to the coastal region of Eritrea, where the ancient port of Adulis likely existed. Historical texts mention Adulis as a marketplace for exotic goods and fauna.

The baboon mummy scrutinized by Gisela Kopp’s team was unearthed in 1905 in the “Valley of the Monkeys” and is currently housed in the Musée des Confluences in Lyon. It is estimated to date back to the Late Period of ancient Egypt, between 800 and 500 BCE, a timeframe preceding the prominence of Adulis as a key trading hub.

Linking Punt and Adulis Through Egyptological Expertise

Ancient texts make reference to Punt as the baboons’ homeland, a mythical region that supplied Egypt with luxury items for several centuries until the early first millennium BCE. Yet, the precise location of Punt remains undetermined. Gisela Kopp states, “Egyptologists have long been perplexed by Punt, viewing it as an early node in global maritime trade and hence a catalyst for economic globalization.”

Punt is recorded in age-old illustrations and texts contemporaneous with the mummy specimens. Egyptological expertise in the study enabled the connection between Punt and Adulis to be established. Gisela Kopp adds, “Our biological findings, when placed in the context of historical research, complete the narrative.”

The findings stand as a landmark in biological research, marking the first successful analysis of ancient DNA from preserved non-human primates. This paves the way for future studies on the effects of human-animal interactions on genetic diversity and disease transmission. Ancient Egyptians’ contact with exotic animals exemplifies early, intense interactions between humans and wildlife. Their custom of mass mummification of various animal species is a unique cultural practice.

The iconography featuring baboons is exclusive to Egypt, and the rationale behind their special status and their representation of deity Thoth remains elusive. In cultures that co-exist with baboons, these animals are often regarded as pests, notorious for crop damage.

Reference and Funding

The study was funded by the Young Scholar Fund and the Zukunftskolleg at the University of Konstanz, Die Junge Akademie of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

Nathaniel J. Dominy was supported by a Senior Fellowship from the Zukunftskolleg; Gisela H. Kopp is presently funded by a Hector Pioneer Fellowship from the Hector-Stiftung II and the Zukunftskolleg.

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More about mummified baboons

• Study Published in eLife
• University of Konstanz Research
• The Musée des Confluences
• Ancient Egypt and Thoth
• Information on Baboons
• Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities
• German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• The Ancient Port of Adulis
• Ancient Egyptian Deities
• Stable Isotopes in Anthropological Research